Colombian Vice President Angelino Garzon has been taken off respiratory support, doctors at the Reina Sofia hospital in Bogota announced Wednesday.
Garzon was on respiratory support for 11 days due to complications from a stroke which forced doctors to put him in an induced coma. It was reported Monday that the vice president awoke from the coma and was on his way to recovery.
“The vice president is in the Intensive Care Unit, is conscious and was removed from mechanical ventilation,” said a statement issued by the the scientific director of the hospital, Andrew Knight.
Officials also confirmed that Garzon has begun the process of comprehensive rehabilitation which doctors hope will allow him to reach full recovery.
The 65-year-old former union leader came to power in 2010 as the running mate of Juan Manuel Santos. In May of this year he dispelled rumors that he wished to contest the 2014 election against the incumbent leader.